The NHL’s free-agency kickoff date is less than 10 days away, and THN.com has been posting an ongoing series in which we analyze the key free agents who will be UFAs on July 1. We began the series with a breakdown of the top eight UFA defensemen. Then, we focused on the top seven available wingers. And most recently, we looked at the top six centers.
Finally, in this file, we’re examining the NHL’s top eight UFA goaltenders. This is the thinnest class of players by position in this summer’s free-agent group, but the need for solid netminding has never been greater, so at least a couple of netminders are bound to be paid decently.
Let’s break down the best goalies that are going to be playing for the highest bidder:
1. Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils
It is a measure of the dearth of quality goalies that Allen, who went 13-16-1 as a backup for Devils starter Jacob Markstrom last season, is considered the best UFA goalie option this summer. The 34-year-old Allen’s individual numbers (including a .908 save percentage and 2.66 goals-against average) indicate that he can still have a positive impact on a playoff-bound team, and Allen is sure to have multiple options for where he’ll play in 2025-26. But is Allen seen as a truly elite goalie and Grade-A difference-maker? No, he isn’t, and that will be reflected in his new deal.
Allen earned $3.85 million this past year, and while there will be teams that want goaltending help as a priority, we don’t see a bidding war breaking out for Allen or any other goalie. In a market where veteran netminder Anthony Stolarz had to settle for $2.5 million last summer, we don’t see Allen getting much more than that this year. Allen can certainly help a team, but nobody will be breaking the bank to get his signature on a contract.
2. Ilya Samsonov, Vegas Golden Knights
Samsonov’s inconsistent play is the chief reason he’s bounced between three teams in his six-year NHL career. The 28-year-old posted a 16-9-4 record with the Golden Knights this past season, as well as a 2.82 GAA and .891 SP. Those numbers weren’t bad for a guy making $1.8 million, but the fact Vegas hasn’t signed him to an extension is rather telling.
The lack of high-end goalies means Samsonov might be able to make slightly more than he earned last year, but anything more than $2 million per year will be seen as an overpayment – and anything more than a two-year contract will also be seen as overly-generous. Samsonov hasn’t shown he can be a consistently solid No. 1 option between the pipes, so he’ll likely be Plan B in a tandem on a team challenging for a playoff berth.
3. Alex Lyon, Detroit Red Wings
The 32-year-old Lyon has evolved into a journeyman goaltender, playing on four teams in his eight-year NHL career. He was an acceptable 14-9-1 with the Red Wings in 2024-25, earning a very reasonable $900,000 while putting up a 2.81 GAA and .896 SP.
That said, Lyon isn’t likely to be a starter wherever he decides to sign. But if a playoff team can bring him aboard at a contract with an average annual salary of less than $2 million to be part of a tandem where he plays 30-35 games, the team should be pleased with the investment they make in him.
4. Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames
At 27 years old, Vladar is one of the younger options available to teams seeking goalie depth. Given that he set a new career-high in appearances last year with 30 for the Flames, Vladar hasn’t shown the ability to be a workhorse at the NHL level. But in the right situation, he could be a solid backup option.
Vladar generated a .898 SP and 2.80 GAA and a 12-11-6 record in Calgary last season, and his salary of $2.2 million will likely be matched by one team or another. But if his next deal comes in under the $2 million threshold, it’ll be because he took less to play on a playoff-caliber group. The Flames weren’t that team in 2024-25, so a change of employer is probable for Vladar.
5. Vitek Vanecek, Florida Panthers
Vanecek won a Cup with the Panthers this year, but it wasn’t as if he played any kind of meaningful role with Florida. He didn’t play a single minute in the playoffs, and after coming over from San Jose in a trade, Vanecek had a 2-4-1 record, an .890 SP and 3.00 GAA as a Panther in the regular season.
Consequently, nobody believes the 29-year-old can be a starter on an elite team, and he’s going to take a sizeable pay cut on the $3.4 million he earned last season. If Vanecek gets even half that amount, it’ll probably be on a team that isn’t considered a playoff lock. And Vanecek will have to prove his worth on what likely will be a one-year deal.
6. David Rittich, Los Angeles Kings
Rittich is the dictionary definition of a journeyman, playing on five teams in his nine-year NHL career. The 32-year-old had a 16-14-2 mark in 34 appearances for the Kings in 2025-26, posting a .887 SP and 2.84 GAA in that span. Nothing too tantalizing, but not a poor showing, either.
Rittich made an even $1 million last year, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll make much more than that on his next contract. He’s going to be a backup netminder, and the only question will be which team brings him on in a supporting role.
7. Anton Forsberg, Ottawa Senators
Fosrberg was the understudy of Linus Ullmark in Ottawa last season, and his individual numbers have been fairly consistent from year to year. He appeared in 30 games in 2024-25 – and he’s played no more than 30 games in each of the past three seasons. Meanwhile, Forsberg put up a .901 SP and 2.72 GAA last season. However, the 32-year-old had a record of 11-12-3 with the Senators, and that means his salary last season of $2.75 million is likely to be cut in half, and that could be generous.
Forsberg is still an NHL-caliber netminder, but he’ll almost assuredly be playing for $1 million or so as a backup option. And it probably won’t be with the Sens, who’ll be moving in a different direction to find Ullmark’s backup.
8. James Reimer, Buffalo Sabres
Father Time has been kind to the 37-year-old Reimer, who posted a 10-8-2 record, a .901 SP and a 2.90 GAA on a sub-par Sabres team last season. Reimer’s salary of $1 million may be cut by a quarter on his next contract, which will likely be his final contract. And that’s if Reimer gets a contract at all.
Reimer hasn’t yet announced his retirement, but he battled his way to 525 career games-played, and he should be proud of his longevity. But teams aren’t giving out contracts based on past glory, so Reimer will have to take whatever he can get if he wants to extend his career. Still, as a league-minimum-salary player, he could be worth taking a gamble on to improve a team’s net depth.
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